Parag says students must ‘know patriotism’ as Moral and Civic education rolled out in schools

Students enrolled at every educational level are required to participate in the new Moral and Civic Education classes, Minister of Education, Sonia Parag has said.

Speaking as a guest on the Starting Point Podcast on Friday, the Minister said several new activities are being rolled out at schools in 2026, in efforts to improve the environment there and the performance of students and schools. Among those are the standalone subject, Moral and Civic Education, report cards for schools and a ramp-up of the anti-bullying campaign.

“The curriculum is tailored to suit the age and what they should be learning at the different ages [for Moral and Civic Education].

“We don’t just want it to be a component. We want it to be taught as a standalone, as a separate subject. At the nursery level, children need to know patriotism, they need to know their identity, they need to know their nationality and it’s all towards nationhood, building cooperation,” Minister Parag said.

She further explained that students must know what demeanor should be exercised during the pledge and national anthem, but importantly, students understand their civic duty and the responsibility that need to be taken for law and order to prevail in the society.

Meanwhile, it was also revealed that the ministry’s anti-bullying campaign’s app will be formally launched soon. This campaign follows several ongoing consultations to address all forms of bullying in schools. This was a massive challenge for the ministry with many reports made public in 2024, causing the ministry to take a bolder approach at tackling the issue.

“Its [the App] there already…a report is made to the Health and Family Unit, officers take the report, they have to investigate the matter, the welfare officers, the guidance counselors, the parents, the child who is involved, and the alleged aggressor is involved and at the end of that, depending on what the investigation reveals, then we make a determination on what to do on a case by case basis,” the minister said.

Now, the ministry is examining what works for these cases, whether it is expulsions, transferring the aggressor or other conflict resolutions can improve the outcome of these cases.

Additionally, a school report card is being rolled out by the end of the school term in efforts of promoting accountability, based on performance of teachers and students.

Noting massive investments injected into the school system, she said it is imperative that the students are developing alongside the school’s improved environments. She said the teachers, as stakeholders, play a critical role in this.

“There should be no excuse why someone can’t develop, there are other factors to be taken into account for certain,” the minister said.